Southport – June 4, 2015
Jimmy, of Wildlife Bait and Tackle, reports that there’s been a good speckled trout bite in the area over the last week (with many 5-7 lb. fish weighed in). Live baits have been producing most of the larger fish, but anglers are catching good numbers of smaller trout on soft plastics.
Black drum are looking for meals around dock and bridge pilings and other hard inshore structure. The drum are falling for live and cut shrimp fished near the bottom.
Troy Harwell, of Kannapolis, NC, with the 37 lb., 14 oz. king mackerel that was the largest fish weighed in the Oak Island Parks and Rec Pier Tournament. He landed the big king off the end of Oak Island Pier after it struck a live bluefish.
Sheepshead are in many of the same areas and taking an interest in live fiddler crabs and sand fleas dangled close to the structure.
Flounder fishing has been good as well, with solid numbers of fish falling for live baits and Gulps pinned to bucktail jigs.
Barry Bond, of Pinehurst, NC, with a red drum that bit a live bait near Bald Head Island while he was fishing with Capt. Greer Hughes of Cool Runnings Charters.
Red drum are still feeding in the bays and marshy creeks around Southport, and they’re falling for a variety of artificial and natural baits.
Out in the ocean, there’s still some excellent spanish mackerel action going on. Big numbers of spaniards are taking an interest in trolled Clarkspoons, and anglers are also hooking some large fish (to 5+ lbs.) while fishing small live baits on the surface around nearshore structure.
King mackerel are still feeding from the beachfront to spots in the 30 mile range. Live baits and dead cigar minnows will both get attention from the kings.
Dolphin have pushed inshore of the Gulf Stream a bit and are on the feed around the Horseshoe at present. Cigar minnows, ballyhoo, and live baits will all attract attention from the ‘phins.
There have also been some big wahoo feeding around the break and just inshore and taking an interest in live and rigged dead baits.
Annette, of Dutchman Creek Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still seeing good numbers of cobia off Oak Island, and they’re hooking them on live baits and lures like bucktail jigs.
Some king mackerel are also feeding within a few miles of the beachfront and biting live menhaden and bluefish.
Spadefish have shown up around nearshore structure off the beaches and will bite shrimp, squid, or pieces of cannonball jellyfish.
Anglers bottom fishing from the surf and piers are connecting with decent numbers of spot.
Speckled trout are feeding around Oak Island’s piers in the early morning hours and taking an interest in live shrimp and soft plastic imitations.
Ryan, of Fugitive Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with plenty of spanish mackerel while trolling around the inlets and just off the beachfront. Clarkspoons are producing most of the fish.
King mackerel and cobia are feeding within a few miles of the beachfront as well and biting live baits.
There’s also been good king action and decent numbers of dolphin in the 20 mile range, with cigar minnows on Mak-a-Hoo lures producing most of the action.
Bottom fishing at offshore structure in the 100’ depths is producing plenty of action with scamp and gag grouper. Cut baits and cigar minnows are fooling the grouper.
Tommy, of Oak Island Pier, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent action from the pier at present.
Live-baiters landed a 37.9 lb. king mackerel and a 30 lb. jack crevalle while fishing from the end of the pier last week.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and straw rigs have been catching big numbers of bluefish and spanish mackerel recently.
Bottom fishermen are connecting with sea mullet, croaker, and some fat pompano. Shrimp and squid are producing most of the action.
Some sheepshead are falling for fiddler crabs and sand fleas fished near the pilings.
Anglers are also picking up some flounder on live mud minnows fished on the bottom.
There’s been an excellent speckled trout bite in the mornings with a bit of action in the evenings as well. Live shrimp are producing most of the trout.
